Focal Palatitis (Previously Focal Palatine Erosions) in Captive Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus)

Abstract

Focal palatine erosion (FPE) is a misleading term that is used in the literature to describe inflammatory lesions associated with depressions of the palatal mucosa in cheetah. Cheetahs have large cheek teeth and these depressions are formed to accommodate them. Previously FPE was only described as a mandibular molar tooth malocclusion on the hard palate due to suspected rotation and super eruption of the mandibular molar teeth of cheetahs aged 18 months and older. Two hundred and fifty six cheetahs (135 male, 121 female), originating from two independent facilities, had their oral cavities evaluated as part of an annual health visit over a decade. Ninety-nine cheetahs were seen once, 59 cheetahs were seen twice, 33 were seen three times, 43 on four occasions, 16 on five occasions, 5 on six occasions, and 1 cheetah was seen seven times. Apart from these clinical cases a prospective study on 5 cheetah cubs (3 male and 2 female) was conducted to document their skull development and mandibular molar tooth eruption over a period of 25 months. Of the 261 cheetahs observed none developed rotation or super eruption of their mandibular molar teeth. The term FPE is a misnomer as these inflammatory lesions were found in palatal depressions opposing any of the cusps of all of the cheetah mandibular cheek teeth. It consisted mainly of deep ulcerations, inflammation and oedema and also micro abscess formation. In severe cases oro-nasal fistulas were present. Of all the depressions present on the cheetah's palate, the large one palatal to the 4th maxillary premolar tooth was most commonly affected. In the five cubs evaluated prospectively, focal palatitis was evident from the 7 month evaluation, before all the permanent teeth erupted. Conservative treatment of the inflamed depressions by removing the foreign material through curettage and copious flushing reduced the grade of the inflammation when observed on follow-up. Focal palatine erosion is an incorrect term used to describe focal palatitis that occurs randomly in cheetahs. This focal palatitis is often associated with foreign material trapped in the palatal depressions. Conservative management is sufficient to treat these animals without odontoplasties.

Keywords: cheetah; focal palatine erosions; molar; palatal depressions; palatitis; teeth.

Figure 1

Bar chart depicting the frequency (%) of FP seen at first visit in the cheetahs of the two facilities evaluated. FP was present in cheetahs from both Namibia (AF, AfriCat) and South Africa (DW, The Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre). Refer Table 3.

Figure 2

Bar chart depicting the frequency (%) of palatal depressions inflamed at the initial evaluations between the two facilities (AF, AfriCat; DW, The Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre).

Figure 3

3-D column charts depicting the development of FP in terms of occurrence and severity in cheetahs from AfriCat (AF), evaluated on four different, consecutive visits. The probabilities of the development of FP in each of the palatal depressions that can potentially have FP are shown. Note that dRPM2 and dLPM2, dRPM3 and dLPM3, and dRPM4 and dLPM4 were pooled. (A) Shows FP at the depressions palatal to the maxillary 2nd premolar teeth, (B) shows FP at the depressions palatal to the 3rd maxillary premolar teeth, (C) shows FP at the depressions palatal to the 4th maxillary premolar teeth.

Figure 4

3-D column charts depicting the development of FP in terms of occurrence and severity in cheetahs from the Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre (DW), seen on four different yet consecutive visits. The figures show the probabilities for FP in each of the palatal depressions that can potentially have FP. Note that dRPM2 and dLPM2, dRPM3 and dLPM3, and dRPM4 and dLPM4 were pooled. (A) Shows FP at the depressions palatal to the maxillary 2nd premolar teeth, (B) shows FP at the depressions palatal to the 3rd maxillary premolar teeth, (C) shows FP at the depressions palatal to the 4th maxillary premolar teeth.

Figure 5

Bar chart showing the frequency (%) of content found in the palatal depressions with FP in the cheetahs of two different facilities (AF, AfriCat; DW, The Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre).

Figure 6

Bar chart depicting the frequency (%) of different material found in the palatal depressions of cheetahs with FP between the two facilities (AF, AfriCat; DW, The Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre).

Figure 7

Photograph depicting foreign material such as bone fragments that were frequently encountered in the FP lesions in the cheetahs from the Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre (DW).

Figure 8

3-D column charts depicting the longitudinal development, and severity of, FP in the five cheetah cubs from the Ann van Dyk cheetah centre followed from 7 months to 25 months of age. The probabilities of finding FP present in each of the palatal depressions that can potentially have FP are indicated as a function of age (months). Note that dRPM2 and dLPM2, dRPM3 and dLPM3, and dRPM4 and dLPM4 were pooled. (A) Shows FP at the depressions palatal to the maxillary 2nd premolar teeth, (B) shows FP at the depressions palatal to the 3rd maxillary premolar teeth, (C) shows FP at the depressions palatal to the 4th maxillary premolar teeth.

Figure 9

The photomicrograph shows ulcerated epithelium (arrow) with mixed inflammation extending deep into the underlying connective tissue of the inflamed palatal depression.